Niners not worried about Aldon Smith's lack of sacks

Jan. 19, 2013
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San Francisco defensive end Aldon Smith wasn't able to get to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers during last week's divisional playoff game, but his teammates and coaches still say he's been an effective pass rusher. / Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

SANTA CLARA, Calif. â?? Aldon Smith moved through the San Francisco 49ers locker room with long, deliberate strides, carrying his lunch with both hands.

Seeing a pair of reporters loitering near his locker, Smith took a sharp left and walked out of the room.

Remember when Smith was on the verge of breaking the NFL's single-season sack record? That was only a month ago, but the second-year defensive end hasn't had a sack in four games. Smith's season total remains stuck at 19.5 â?? three shy of Michael Strahan's record â?? just as it was on Dec. 9, when he had two sacks against the Dolphins.

The sackless streak started in San Francisco's big win in New England and has continued into the postseason. As long as the 49ers are winning (3-1 in those four games), there is little quibbling about Smith's performance.

His coaches and teammates are quick to dismiss the lack of sacks as lazy examinations of the box score, or a combination of factors, from a quick-trigger quarterback last week (Aaron Rodgers) to the loss of Justin Smith, San Francisco's best interior lineman, for the final two and a half games of the regular season.

"I don't look at it as a drought," defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said. "I think teams have respect for our rush. They throw it quick sometimes. And those guys are playing fine. It's not always stats. Don't look at that play-by-play after the game and make your conclusions. Watch the game."

Smith has worn a black "non-contact" jersey in practice recently and has routinely been listed as a limited participant because of a shoulder injury. His snaps in games, however, have not decreased. Just that final tally on the box score.

Justin Smith returned for San Francisco's first postseason game, a 45-31 win against the Green Bay Packers, and is dealing with his own issues. He is wearing a bulky brace on his left arm to protect his partially torn triceps.

He doesn't seem concerned about his teammate, and said he hasn't noticed a change in how Aldon has practiced in recent weeks. The lack of sacks, Smith said, doesn't mean a lack of pressure.

"He's demanding a lot of extra attention," Justin Smith said. "The guy's a beast over there and he's going to get a lot of attention and they're not going to let you just go one-on-one."

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